Stop-cock seal.



B. e. GAMBELL.

STOP 000K SEAL.

APPLICATION IILED AUG. 4, 1913.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

INVENTOR www? WITNESSES 7N! NONI!! PKYIFS CU.. PNGOYLIYHO.. WASHING'UN. D. C,

BIRUM G. CAMPBELL, OF JACKSON', MICHIGAN'.

suor-coen saar..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Application led August 4, 1913. Serial No. 782,792.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BIRUM G. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,.and a resident of the city of Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new, useful, and Improved Stop-Cock Seal, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification fully disclosing the invention, such that others may understand the construction and operation of the same.

This invention relates to seals which are used with stop-cocks, said stopcocks being placed in a conduit which carries fluids of different kinds und which are used to turn ofi or turn on the fluid as desired.

My invention is of utility irrespective of the nature of the fluid carried by the conduit but it is of especial utility when used in connection with conduits carrying natural or artificial gas to houses for use in lighting and heating. In this connection it is the uniform practice to have the company furnishing the gas, put in the meter for measuring the supply used by a certain house, and an employee of the company7 is always sent whenever gas is to be supp ied or eut off from any certain house. It 1s also customary for such employee when the gas is cut off, to seal the gas cockso thatzit cannot be turned on again without breaking the seal in some manner. The stop-cocks used are not of standard size and vary much in this respect so that an employee when directed to cut oi the gas from a particular house must carry a large number. of seals with him in order to be sure that one of them at least will answer the purpose. It is also desirable that the gas when once turned on shall not be turned off either wholly or in part without the knowledge of the company supplying it.

In my invention, I have constructed a seal for stop-cocks which is ada )ted to be applied to various sizes of coc rs so that one pattern of seal is all that is required to be kept in stock. Also this seal is adapted to be applied to the stop-cock when it is in either of its two positions, that is when turned so that the gas is entirely cut off or when turned so that the as is on its full pressure and amount. 1th seals of this kind, it is not necessary to have a large number of different patterns of seals for each size and type of stop-cock used, nor is it necessary for the employee to carry any seals with him at all except when the meter is rst installed in a house. At that time, the seal will be taken along with the meter, applied to the cock with it in its gas supplying position, and fixed thereto so as not to be taken therefrom. If at any time the gas has to be turned off, an employee may release the seal, turn the stop-cock to the proper position and then replace the seal iixin it so that gas cannot be again turned on. ly invention provides a sim le and practical means of accom lishing tiese results. It is also a desirab e feature of seals of this type that their fixing to and release from the stop-cock shall be accomplished only by a proper employee of the company. I have provided in my invention a means to effect this end, or at least if anyone other than an authorized person does tamper with the seal, it can be easily and readily detected. These and various other objects and purposes not specifically enumerated will be apparent as the description of the embodiment shown in the drawings progresses, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my stopcock seal showing it as applied to a stopcock. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional View as taken on the line o-a, Fi 2, the stop-cock being shown in dotted out ine. Fi 4 is a plan view of the movable and adjustable member of the seal.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

The main or relatively stationary member of my seal is in the form of a stirrup 1 having two depending sides or legs 2 and 3 connected at their tops by the upper portion 4 as shown. This upper portion is hollow to receive the upper part of the stop-cock, the sides or legs 2.and 3 passing on either side of the cock as shown, and there is provided in such upper portion, recesses 5 and 6 to receive the flattened head 7 of the stopcock, such recesses lying at right an les to each other as shown in dotted lines, ig. 2, and making in effect a cross. lVhen the head 7 lies so as to enter the recess 5, the cock is turned so as to obstruct the passage of any gas or other fluid therethrough and when turned so as to enter the recess 6, the fluid has free passage through the cock. It will be evident accordingly that the seal is adapted to be applied to the stop-cock in either of the two positions of the head, and that when so applied, it is impossible toy nain access to t e head'to'turn'fthe'cock"- rfrom the position in which it is left...

The leg 2 of the stirrup is provided lwith a. .series .of openingsor holes 8 whicl1 are1 positioned one above the other for a distance from the lower end of thefleg'. The opposite leg 3 has formed integrally therewith" a Iprojecting housing 9fhaving *spaced apnrt-sides-10 which are pierced with a series of openings'll as shown, these o enings lying one above vthe other for a istance fronrthe--lower edge of the-housing.` The movable or-adjustablemember ofthe seal is'inithe form of a cup 12 having projecting at idiametrically'opposed points' on the =outer surface'thereof, and near theupper edges o-the cup, the-lugs 13y and 14, lug13 being shaped to readily, enter anyl ofthe openings Sin-the -leg- 2, whilel the lug- 14 is in the shape '.of"a I flattened piece #of '-metal and adapted to pass `between the sideslO of the housing).` Suchlug 14 Tis-pierced as-at 15 tofprovide'anopening therein" which as the lug is moved betweenv the-sides H10' y'comes into alinementwith the openings'll formed therein.

When thisseal is appliedf-to a stop-cock, eitherin it'sfopen or closed position, the head-'7 thereof enters one of 'the recesses v5 or 6, and the-legs 2 and3 'pass alongside ofthe stop-cock, the-endsthere0f extending belowrthe flower limits offthe stop-cock. The adjustable member mayl then-be attachedy to the stirrup orrelatively stationar member-1 byinsertion of the lugl throug one of theholes v8,' after whichfthelug 14 is placed between the sides-10 4of thehous- 401mg and carried upward untilthe base-of the cupi portion 12 engages' against the -lower partfof: the stop-cocku Thehole 15in lug 14 will bevsubstantially in falinement with the holes `in the side pieces-10,'no-matterat what position the upward movement oflug levis stopped' owing tothel closep1aoing of the4 holes 1n-sidepieces110,'andfa wire, such as shown'at 16 may be1carriedtherethrough to 4hold/thenlug 14 inlfixed relation tothe sides-ofI the housing." In this connection I have made'uselo the welll known lead Iseal, whichiis commonly used insealing cars. In suche-.seals :there-is :provided 'a llead' body 17 with a wire secured 'abone-end: therein, the body having anfopening therethrough forfreely'v receiving thel free. endv of "the wirefafter it' has `been passed through parts thatiaremo be securedtogether,in this instancefthe-'side's offthehousing and the lug 14.- The Vleadfbody is thenfcrushed so as to firmly fsecure'the wire inthe body; and-it yis intended in the use-'of thisigas cock'seal that an identifyingcharacter'such 1 as indicated in-I Figur 1 may' be' yimpressedliny .the lead fbody "when crushedon the wire 1 socthat 'it will be easy to identify the one who did theisealing. The release of the stirrup member from the stop-cock after once securednfin this manner can be effected. only by breaking the lead seal 17 or the w1re 16 formingza.- part thereof, and any .tampering therewith` may be readily detected. The type-offileadseal-:used may be such as seems advisable, the one illustrated being a common and well knownform'.' n

lVith this constructionas abone outlined, itis apparent thatIhaveprovided a seal that vmay Vbe ,left on the stop-cockI atV all times'either'- when the vgas is passing therethrough -orwhenz'it is stoppedfr'om passage. It is Valso eiident tliatthis type of seal 4is applicable tostopf-cocks of 'different sizes, the stirrupbeingmade'large enough that thelegs 2and -3 may pass alongside the stopcock ofthelargest'size used and the movable member having adjustability` asdescribed such that when a small size of lstopcock is to besealed, the movable member is secured nearer the -upper partsof the stirrup legs, thusgforcinggthe head of vthe stopcock into one of'vthe retainingl recesses 5 or 6 wherebyjitis prevented from'turning after the' seal isoncec secured in' place. The

heads of most stop-cocksused 'are rectangular in'cross'section and theshape of the recesses 5 and 6 as suchas to, care for such heads. In -a few instances the heads are square, in which .case'the -head will' fit -in the space made-by -theintersection offthe two recesses 5 and 6 :and will be heldjfrom turningafterl the-seal is'ailiXe'd by engagement with the-shoulders-formedat the intersectionof such recesses.- The openings in the legsy 2 and in thelsides ofthe housing 9 are placed-^closetogetherlso that there is a large number of adjustments thatcan be made for the movable adjusting member, adapting-the seal to`-use-with various sizes of stopfcocks and permitting the movable member totcloselyfgagainst the under portion of .th'estop-cock without the looseness which might be present'if'there was but slight range of adjustment..

I have fully describeda complete vand operative embodiment 'of my invention and 2 one -fullyanswering the 'purposes and objects desired.

Various minor-changes may be resorted to without departing from the invention,

and I," accordingly,l do not desire to be liml ited tothe specific embodiment shown. All modificationsl falling within'l the scope of theappended claims-are to be'considered as coming within the scope of my invention.

WhatI 'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent is 1. A 'seal' for stop cocks comprising a hollow head 'adaptedtoreceive the upper portion and theoperatingj-head of va stop-cocl andlniddse" them;v members integral :with

said hollow head extending therefrom and s aced apart adapted to lie along side the sides of the cock, and a member adjustably connected to and between the said members, said member including a cup portion to receive vand completely inclose the lower end portion of the stop cock, and oppositely dlsposed projections for engagement with the said side members of the seal, one of said projections being received in openings in one of said side members, and the other of said projections being adapted to be connected at a lurality of positions to the other side mem er.

2. A seal for stop-cocks comprising a hollow portion for receiving and inclosing the upper part of the cock and the operating head thereof and spaced apart members connected therewith for embracing) the sides of the cock, each of said members eing provided with a series of openings in alinement, and means for engaging the lower portion of the cock, said means including a cup for receiving and completely inclosmg the lower part of the cock with diametrically opposed projections extending therefrom, one of said projections being adapted to pass through the openings in one of said members, and the other of said pro'ections being adapted to be securely attac ed to theother of said members by fastening means passing through the openlngs therem and through the said projection.

3. A seal for stop-cocks comprising a porltion for engaging with the operating head of the cock to prevent o eration thereof and side members connecte therewith for embracing the sides of the cock, one of said members being provided with a series of openings in vertical alinement, a houslng having spaced apart sides connected to thc other side member said housing being provided with a series of openings in each side in vertical alinement, a member adapted to be ositioned between said side members having diametrically opposed lugs .one of which is adapted to enter the openings m the first side member and the other to pass between the sides of the housing, said second lug having an openin therein whereby it may be secured to the ousing by insertion of a retaining device through thel openin s in the housing sides and the luv.

n testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' BIRUM G. CAMPBELL. Witnesses:

A. ARTHUR SPAULDING, 0mm. B. CASE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for Ave oonts each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

